You know the joy of a delicious chicken nugget, preferably one that comes in amazing shapes like dinosaurs, if you have kids or have ever been a kid. The issue I always have with chicken nuggets is not their shape or the lack of variety they offer on the menu, but rather their soggy, rubbery texture after being microwaved. But when you cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer, you can consistently produce crisp, delicious nuggets.

The air fryer makes it very simple to cook chicken nuggets. Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Oil spray is not necessary. Read more & find the best ways to cook frozen chicken nuggets!

Frozen Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer

If your family is anything like ours, frozen nuggets are always on hand. If I didn’t have some quick and simple snacks on hand, my kids would eat me out of house and home.

The simplest and most effective way to make chicken nuggets is to cook them in the Air Fryer.

In about 10 to 12 minutes, the frozen chicken nuggets should be perfectly cooked.

You can find all of the details and full instructions are written below or skip to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe.

You might also enjoy these frozen burritos in an air fryer if you like heating frozen foods in one.

Consider making a test batch because there are so many different sizes and brands of nuggets. You’ll be able to determine the ideal cooking time for your preferred brand and size of nuggets after completing a test batch.

Avoid packing the basket too full of nuggets because this will make them take longer to cook and become crispy. The nuggets should be kept in a single layer with some space between them.

Also Check: 20+ Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes 2023 – Tasty & Delicious

Why Are Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets the BEST?

Air frying is the best method for achieving the ideal texture of a crispy exterior and tender interior for your nuggets. When I tried them, I was astonished by how delicious they were and how the texture was just what I wanted in a nugget! It’s basically a miracle that I managed to do it without any oil splatters or other mess! The preparation of these nuggets is simple and delicious!

Because they are so good, I also just ate them plain, but there are SO many other things you can do with them! Add them to a salad, dip them in some sauce or eat them with some french fries and lemonade and you will have yourself a meal! Even better, you can prepare a large quantity of these at once and eat them on the go. We have so many activities and places to be during the school year and are gone all the time! Making these ahead of time and reheating them for quick meals is great! Both you and your family will adore these!

Read More: How to Preheat an Air Fryer – Will Food Become More Delicious?

What Do I Need to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets?

These nuggets are made up of a bunch of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry! Once you’ve combined them, you’re ready to begin! You can find a list of precise measurements on the recipe card below.

• Chicken breast: Small cubes of chicken breast should be cut up. To ensure even cooking, make sure they are all roughly the same size.
• Flour: For this recipe, I used all-purpose flour!
• Salt and pepper: The nuggets were seasoned with this just before baking.
• Olive oil: You can substitute melted butter for olive oil if you don’t have any on hand.
• Garlic: fresh garlic cloves into a mince. Use the minced garlic from your refrigerator if you don’t have any. ½ tsp equals about 1 clove of garlic!
• Panko: These chicken nuggets are the crispiest because of the panko bread crumbs.
• Parmesan: This enhances the crisp texture and enhances the flavor.
• Dried parsley: I like to flavor it with parsley. It has a flavor that is comparable to chicken nuggets from a restaurant!
• Paprika: I adore using the sweet spice paprika in this coating.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

These air fryer chicken nuggets are fast, easy, and can be made ahead of time! They taste fantastic, and I find it hard to believe that they are made without using any oil to fry them.

• Whisk and combine: In a small bowl whisk together the flour, salt and pepper. In a separate small bowl whisk the oil and minced garlic. Panko, parmesan, parsley, and paprika should all be combined in a separate small bowl.
• Dip and coat: Place the tenders in three layers: the flour mixture, the oil, and the panko. Make sure to cover each one equally.
• Place in air fryer: After putting the tenders inside, spray the air fryer basket with oil.
• Cook and flip: Cook the until crispy for an additional 7 to 10 minutes after flipping it at 400 degrees.
• Enjoy: Serve warm

How Long to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets

Uninitiated individuals may not realize that air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens that cook food by circulating electric heat with strong fans. Without the intimidating frying, messy oil, and added calories, this dry, full-coverage heat produces flawlessly crispy results.

Chicken nuggets require at least 20 minutes to prepare when baked in a standard oven. But with this handy appliance, you’ll likely only need to air fry them for about 6 to 10 minutes on one side and 4 to 6 minutes on the other side at 400°F, depending on the size of the nuggets and your model of air fryer.

Chicken Nuggets Internal Temperature

Uncooked frozen chicken nuggets should be at least 165°F (74°C) to be considered safe. Verify the safe temperature of your nuggets using a meat thermometer.

Fully cooked chicken nuggets are available. If there is no mention of this on the packaging, consider the nuggets to be either raw or only partially cooked.

Are Frozen Chicken Nuggets Healthy?

My question here (as a registered dietitian and nutrition expert) is “healthy for who?” To give an extreme example, if all of your diet consists of is chicken nuggets, adding more will probably not be healthy for you.

On the other hand, if eating foods such as chicken nuggets and pizza (“fear foods” for some) helps you maintain your eating disorder recovery, chicken nuggets may be an excellent food for you. Numerous general nutrition recommendations found online, including those on this website, are inappropriate for people who have a history of eating disorders.

It’s definitely possible to have an overall healthy diet that includes the occasional meal of chicken nuggets. In terms of nutrient density and amount of processing, I would not say that frozen chicken nuggets are the best choice. That said, stressing out over eating 100% “perfectly” all of the time often isn’t optimal either.

What Are the Healthiest Chicken Nuggets?

Choose the brand of frozen chicken nuggets you like if you don’t eat chicken nuggets often. It might be chicken nuggets from Tyson, another brand that makes you think of McDonald’s chicken nuggets, or something else entirely.

It’s ok to eat a food simply because you like it. Some people’s medical nutrition therapy requires them to adhere to strict dietary restrictions. Even in those cases, it’s often possible to find substitutes for favorite foods.

However, the kind of chicken nuggets you choose are more crucial if you consume a lot of them—one or more nugget meals per week. The nuggets take up more of your diet than other, perhaps healthier, foods.

FAQs

Try the following Air Fryer recipes if you are interested!